the_seafarer: (stables)
Caspian X ([personal profile] the_seafarer) wrote2023-02-11 10:26 pm

[au] Narnia and the North

There's a chill bite to the air, these days. The horses have been growing out their winter coats, and they look shaggy and plump as Caspian turns them out into the paddocks. Behind the stables, in the makeshift woodshop he'd cobbled together, the sleigh from his drawings is starting to come together. 

He hopes he'll have it finished by Christmas. With a little luck, and maybe some assistance, he thinks it should be possible. The tack, he's largely left up to Susan's devices, though he'd commission Gimli the dwarf for the various buckles and other metal pieces they'll need.

Once the horses are turned out, he gets to his other morning chores with a will, whistling cheerfully as he does. The stable stays strangely quiet around him. It takes him the better part of an hour to realize the strangeness is because he's become accustomed to Susan's cheerful presence working alongside him, talking or humming or simply working in companionable silence. 

Caspian pauses in his task – refilling the grain chest – and looks around. Susan's nowhere to be seen, and when he later wanders through the stables, checking each stall and outside, he can't find her there, either.
sai_delgado: (cuthbert allgood)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-26 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think that's an excellent idea." He gives an affectionate slap to Kiseki's shoulder as they reach their mounts, checking him over with easy familiarity before he swings back into the saddle.

"As was this. You were right."
sai_delgado: (cuthbert allgood)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-27 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
Cuthbert's answering grin is quick and bright. "You bet we should."

To his credit, he holds off on actually doing so until they've cleared the garden itself.
sai_delgado: (susan with corella)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-27 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
She hears the sound of approaching riders while she's lunging Liaffen in the training ring. The battle-trained palomino stallion backs and snorts an alarm, and for the next several minutes all her attention's given to soothing him down and working him in pattern-circles until he's settled.

Susan praises him, gives him a bit of apple as a treat, and turns him out into his paddock before she makes her way back up to the front of the stable to meet the others. Alain's already there, helping Cuthbert to cool out Kiseki. She hesitates by the fence-rail, unaccountably nervous, then goes to Caspian and Duncan.

"Did he do well for thee?" she asks.
sai_delgado: (playful in blue and gold)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-27 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
Susan gasps and barely stifles a giggle. "Oh, thee mischief," she scolds, but lightly. "All right, both, then."
sai_delgado: (thoughtful considering)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-27 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
Susan freezes, looking up at him, wide-eyed. "She did?" Hearing herself, in the next breath she hastens to assure him, "I'd not doubt thee, never, I'd just not dared to let-- to think--"
sai_delgado: (outside in sunlight with jacket)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-27 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
Flustered, she reaches for Duncan's rein to take over cooling him down. "Here, an'ye'd allow it," she insists, softly.

It's easier to focus on the horse than on her tumbling, confused thoughts.
sai_delgado: (brown leather jacket)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-27 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
After a minute, she reaches for his hand, twining her fingers with his. It's likely he'll feel the way she's shivering, she kens that all too well, but she does it anyway.

"Do'ee think it'll work?"
sai_delgado: (thoughtful considering)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-27 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
She nods, and makes herself draw a deep breath - and although shivers continue to run through her, she's able to smile up at him, sweet and real and true.

"I didn't wish to trouble her," she says, softly. "But I'm so glad she agreed. Thankee, for suggesting it."
sai_delgado: (thoughtful considering)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-27 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
Susan blinks at him in surprise and more than a little confusion. "Thee did naught to apologize for."
sai_delgado: (thoughtful considering)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-27 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
She nearly jerks to a stop at that, but the need to make sure Duncan's cooled out properly keeps her moving. "Oh, Caspian." Susan squeezes his hand tight, then lets go so she can slip her arm around his waist as they walk.
sai_delgado: (outside in sunlight with jacket)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-27 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
"He would, I wot. So will Alain, when he sees it, say true."

She leans into him, just a little. "I'd not press thee," she murmurs, after a moment. "Or do aught to hurt thee, so if thee'd not speak of it, we'll not. But if thee would... why did thee tell him now?"
sai_delgado: (outside in sunlight with jacket)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-27 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
She wonders why he'd say that about Cuthbert, but decides it's something best asked another time, if she can't puzzle it out before then. "So thee do," she says instead, softly, then frowns over his question.

"Aye. Thee ordered me to wake. In Aslan's name, thee said."
sai_delgado: (brown leather jacket)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-02-27 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
She frowns over that too. "Mayhap," she allows. "The Lion weren't part of any of it, so mayhap. And then thee touched my hair, I felt it, and I knew thee wouldn't -- that thee wouldn't -- and I woke the rest of the way."

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